Knitting machine



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yINcEN'r This invention relates to knitting vmachinesv and methods and -more particularlyv it relates to machines and methods for-knitting fabrics of a plurality of independent yarns, for example, multicolor fabrics.

An object of the inventionl is to provide a fabric comprisin a plurality of yarns so combined-as to pro uce a strong and durable structure presenting any of a Wide variety lof pleasing effects and designs.

j Another object is directed to the.pr'o vision of a knitting machine which is sim ple in construction, economical of manufacture and assembly, readily adjustable,

capable of a wide variety vof uses and' adapted for ready and efficient operation.

Another object is to provide means for producing a predetermined variation in the rise and fall of the needles of a knitting machine to cause desired variations in the fabric.

Another object is to provide means 'for securing the individual control of the knitting operations of a plurality of needles, ,particularly advantageous when the needles are all similar as to shape and size. l Another object is to provide means for securing automatically the individual control of allthe Ineedles of a machine to cause the production of a. fabric from a plurality of independent yarns in 4which a arn not appearing in the front of the fabric. at any particular point is interlocked behind and between the loops of the yarn which does form loops in the front of the fabric at that point.

Another object is to provide special caml to effect such steps. all of whichwill be exemplified in the following detailed diS- closure andthescope of the application of .which will be indicated` in the appended claims.

prevent any looseness" ord LOMBARDI, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

KNITTING MACHINE.

Application filed September 17, 1925. Serial No. 56,895.

and objects of the invention reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanyingdravvings in which Fig. 1 represents a general lan view of the machine of this invention; ig. 2 is a sectional view of the machine illustrating the automatic control of the knitting operations of a representative needle; Fig. 3 is a sectional viewy of the certain cams attached to a rotating cyl- For a'fuller understanding of the nature inder; Fig. 4 illustrates the pattern drum mech-anism for the machine; Fig. 5 is an end yView in section of one of the pattern drums; Fig. 6 is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the cylinder needles in their various operating positions with their associated control appartus arranged to produce a certain type of fabric; Fig'.4 7 is a fragmentary view in a plurality of sections in different horizontal planes to illustrate the construction of the machine; Fig. 8 illustrates the position of the control apparatus of a needle when the needle is prevented from knitting; Fig. 9 illustrates the needle control apparatus when the needle is-inits full knitting position. j

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the

knitting machine disclosed is of the circularv type employing cylinder needles and in the specific type taken for illustration two yarn carriers 1 and 2 are provided. It will be assumed for convenience that the yarn from carrier 1 is blue and the yarn from carrier 2 is White so as to give a twocolor fabric the design of which may be varied. The cylinder needles are controlled. automatically inthe knitting by paper patterns located on four rotatable drums 3, 4, 5 and 6, each drum being adapted by mechanism hereinafter described to control the cylinder needles in the adjacent quadrant of the maers` chine, so that the four drums provide for the automatic control of all ofV the cylinder needles in the entire circumference of the machine.

Power for driving the machine may be obtained from a motor 7 which drives a shaft 8. Shaft 8 by suitable gears is coupled to shafts 9 and 10 so that these latter shafts are driven in a clockwise direction. Shaft 10 is geared at its end to rotate a shaft 12 which ,as will be described later controls the pattern drum 3. Similarly, shaft 9 is geared to a shaft which drives pattern drum 5.

Attached to the end of the main-shaft 8 is 13 to which are fastened the various parts of the machine which are to be rotated. On

the opposite side of themachine from shaft 8 isa shaft 14 driven by gear means from the toothed ring 13. Shaft 14 in turn drives two shafts 15 and 16 whichin turn drive controlling shafts for the pattern drums.4 and 6, respectively.

vThe ring 13 1s attached at the points 17 and 18 with the cam ring 19, which supports the cams for raising and lowering` the needles), as hereinafter described. vThe cam ring 29 for moving the customary sinkers in and out is connected by members other parts of the machine appearing in Fig. 1 will be explained in vdetail in connection V`with Fig. 2 which gives a vertical sectional View taken at the point vindicated in Fig. 1. The slotted cylinder 24 for holding the cylinder needles is shown at the extreme left of Fig. 2.` One of the latched cylinderneedles 25 is shown in a vertical slot in cylinder 24, the cylinder needles being held in their respective slots b wires 26, 27. Above the needle cylinder 24 ie the usual sinkers 28 and the rotating sinker ,cam 20. The yarn 4carrier 1 is supported fromthe sinker cam 2Q in the usual manner. The rotating sinker cam 20 slides in a groove in the stationary ymember 30 which is suitably mounted on a stationary cylinder 32, which in turn, rests on the base plate 33. The toothed or ringi gearv 13 rotates in a groove in plate 33 whilel the needle cam cylinder 19 also rotates in a groove in the same plate. The gear rinor 13 and they needle cam cylinder are connected by member 17, as shown also in Fig., 1. A post 34 rising from the rotatable cylinder 19 serves to support the member 22 which is fastened to the sinker cam 29.l Arising from and integral with the annular plate 35 which connects the needle cylinder 24 with the base plate 33 is an upright piece 36 which in addition to having a groove in the top there- -of running around the machine also has a dee radial slot 38 opposite each cylinder nee le. Lying in the circumferential' groove 37 is a wire 39 and lying on top of wire 39 in each radial slot is a needle-lever 40. Each lever 40 is pivoted on the wire 39 due to a deep groove 42 on its underside into which the wire lits snugly. The radial slot in member 36 into which the lever 40 ts should be designed to prevent Ian appreciable side play of lever 40 while" still permitting the lever to rotate on its pivot. One end of lever 40 ends in two jaws which iit around the needle butt so that the movement of lever 40 will cause a rise or fall in its associated needle. In the other direction lever 40 ends between two -jaws of an upright operating member 43 for the lever. The upper end of member 43 fits into a slot 44 in the stationary member 30, i

while the lower end of member 43 fits into a slot 45 in the base plate 33. v Slot 44 allowsan upwardand downward movement of member 43 but permits no side play in veither transverse direction. Slot 45, however, allows considerable lateral movement of the lower end of member 43 in a direction l parallel to the plane ofthe drawing but permits no lateral movement in a direction .isi slotted toreceive the end of lever 40. 22 and 23 to the cylinder cam ring 19. The

In Fig. 2 the lever operating member 43 is ,75 at right angles to the plane of the drawing.

all

in its uppermost position to which it has been raised bythe passage of a cam46 (see Fig. 8) which contacted with the lower side of projection 48 to fully raise member 43 to the position shown in Fig. 2. Projection 48 is of sucha size that cam 46 will in each passage contact with the lower side thereof i toralse member'43 to its uppermost positlon provided the lower end of member-43 has been 4moved to its extreme right` position. Referring again to Fig. 8 it will be l seen that if member 43 is moved only partlally to the right another cam 41 will con'l tact with the lower side of projection 48 and since cam 41 is smaller than cam 46, this will produce only a partial `raising of the lever operating memberv 43. l

Near the lower end of cylinder 19 are niounted'two additional cams '49 and 50. These additionalcams are such that depending on the lateral position lof member 43, the

member 43 will at times be lowered by cam 49 and at other times will be lowered by the passage of cam 50 due to contacting with the upper side of projection 48;,and at still other times will not be lowered by the passage of either cam 49 `or v50. Due' to their re ative sizes cam 50 will lower member 43 only a small distance and cam 49 will lower it a greater distance for reasons which will' appear hereinafter. The relations of cams 41, 46, 49 and 50 are such that any needles ralsed by cam 49 will be lowered by cam 46 and any needles raised by cam 50 will be lowered by cam 41.

Slot 45 which passes entirely through the base plate 33 also holds a horizontally oper'- atin member 52 which is U-shaped in one portion 53 thereof to form a pocket for the lower end of member 43 so as to be a guide therefor whenever member 52 is moved horizontally. One end of member 52 is itted to receive the end of a spring 54 which at its other end fits into a groove in the/side of base plate 33. vThe action of spring 54 is such as to tend to pull member 52 lin the direction of the center of the machine. The other end of member 52 is fastened to the end of a exible wire 55 which is used to control lou yin;

57 for maintaining tube 56 in its desired y position.

The arrangement by means of which wire 55 is controlled by a paper pattern will now be described.- Fig. 2 at the right shows an end view of the pattern drum 3. Pivoted about a. shaft 58 is an angle member having two arms 59 and 60; .Pivoted also about shaft 58 is an arm 62 to the'lower end of which is attached the-end of 'wire 55. Arm

60 is normally'held awayvfrom Aarm v62 a desired distance by means of an adjustable screw 63. The free end of arm 59 is pro-- Avided with a threaded plunger 64 the lower `end of which continues as a pin 65 of much smaller diameter than the main body thereof. The plunger 64 is normally held in contact ywith the pattern paper on drum 3 due to the `pull of spring 54 through wire 55. If there happens to be a small hole in the paper .underneath plunger 64 the pin 65 will enter .the hole until the main body of the-plunger rests on the paper. If there is a large hole in the paper the main body of the plunger 64 will project therethrough a much .i greater distance.

Referring to both Figs. 1 and`2, it will be seen that with reference to drum 3 there are also pivoted about shaft 58 two spaced cams 68 joined by a rod 69. Each ofthese cams 68 contains av slot 70 which `surrounds the rotating shaft 12. Mounted on the rotatable shaft y12 and'located within the slotl 70 is an eccentric 72 which by the rotation of shaft 12 gives an oscillating movement to cam 68 about shaft 58. In Fig. 2 the cam 68 is shown in its .maximum counter-clockwise po'-` sition and in this position cam 68 by means of rod 69 moving against arms 60 causes all the plungers 64 to be raised away from the paper pattern. At such a time another arm 73 on shaft 12 contacts with one of the pins 74 on the end of the pattern drum 3 thereby causing the pattern drum to be moved to the next row of holes in the pattern. A suitable spring 75 contacting with one of the pins 74 insures that the drum 3 when moved by arm 73 will come to rest in'such a position as to align the plungers 64 with the next row of holes `in the pattern; lVhenever itis desired to lift the plungers 64 manually as when it is necessary to change the paper pattern for example, handle 76 may be moved in a counter-clockwise direction for this purp pose. Pivotally mounted on shaft 58 and under thev control of handle 76 are two mem` bers 77 which support a metallic strip 78 running parallel to the drum underneath the plunger` arms 59. The movement of handle 76 in a counter-clockwise direction causes the plunger arms159 to be lifted to free the paper pattern of all the plungers. Strip 78 has an upright projection 79. between each pair of the plunger arms 59 so as to serve as guides therefor. The pattern drum 3 and its' associated cams and shafts may be located in a suitable Ahousing 80 having a suitable cover 82. Housing 8O is suitably supported by a base 83 constituting a part of the supporting frameworkof the machine.

-Itwill be understood, of course, that there are elements 40, 43, 53, 54, 55. 56. 62,60, 59,

64 and 65 for each cylinder needle .whereby each cylinder .needle may be moved automatically in accordance with its4 associated "pattern-on thel pattern drum. 'The drum 3 takes care of the needles in one quadrant, drum 4 `ina secondquadrant, drum 5 in a third quadrant and drum 6 in the remaining quadrant of the machine. -If the plunger 64 in its downward movementsfinds no hole in the paper pattern the associated member 43 will be in such a position as to respond tothe cylinder cam 49 ahdlcause its needle. to be.

raised to its maximum height whereby it enters into the knitting. vIf there is a small hole in the paper so that only pin 65 enters, member 43 will beA responsive to the cylinder cani 50 and the associated needle will be moved toan intermediate position.l If there is a large hole in the paper pattern member 43 will not be responsive to either cam 49 or cam 50.

Fig. 3 `is self-explanatory and shows how the cams 49 and 50 are attached to the cam' cylinder 19. A

Fig. 4 illustrates the mechanical construction of the two pattern drums 3 and 4. Drums 5 and 6 are, of course, similar. Drum 3 is shown. with the `paper pattern partly removed while drum 4 has a paper pattern 84 thereon. The shaft85 for drum 3 is suitably pivoted at the points 86 and 87 to allow its free rotation when actuated by the bar 73. Member 86 has a. suitable sup-l port 88 and member 87 has a support 89 through which it passes. Member 87 is held in place by a pivoted clamping arm 90 which is held against member 88 by a thumb screw 92. Clamping arm 90 being released allows member 87 to be pulled away is below the` surface f the drum to facilitate the removal of the paper pattern. This is accomplished having leach pin 93 on one edge of the drumprovided by a side pin' 94 'which works in an angular' slot in a knurled similar lknurled ring of the drums 3 to 6.

ring 95. Fig. 5 from which it will be. apparent that when the pins 93 project above the surface of the drum the side pins are near the outer ends of the slots while the movement of ring --95 in a counterclockwise*direction from the position shown in Fig. 5 will cause the Vside pins to move along towards the inner ends of the slots thereby retracting the pins 93. A 95 is located at each end of drum- 3.a lso applies equally well to the structure ofthe other three drums.

The machine of this lnvention is adapted A to knit fabrics of widely diferent types since individual and automatic control is provided for each needle. While itis capable of knitting the ordinary Jersey cloth it is also par- 'ence ismade to the patent for a detailedv description of this ltype of interlocked fabric. The method .of operation of the present machine will be better understood by reference to Fig. 6 which shows the operationschematically, the needles being `placed in one plane for explanatory purposes. `Cams 41, 46, 49, 50 and 96 areV adapted to cause the operation of the needles 97, 98, 99 and 100 are adapted to cause the operation of the needles for the passage of yarn carrier 2. The cams and the yarn carriers are traveling ofcourse from left 'to right.

l For illustrative purposes the paper patterns on the drums 3 to 6 of Fig. 6 are designed to give in the front of thefabric loops of yarn 1 in one section controlled by drum l3 and loops of yarn 2 in another section of the cloth controlled by drums 4, 6 and 5 so as to give a striped eect. In that section containing loops of yarn 1, yarn 2 is interlocked in alternate wales i the rear of the fabric while in that section containing loops of yarn 2, yarn 1 is interlocked in alternate wales in the rear of the fabric as explained more in detail in my above mentioned patent. In Fig. 6 drums 3 and 6 have just been moved up one step since no cams are acting at this time on the needles controlled by drums 3 and 6. The mechanism de- This is shown more in detail in' The above description while in position ,loops of yarn 2.

for the passage ofA yarn carrier 1, while corresponding cams 91,

scribed in,- Fig. 2'has' not yet caused the I plungers to contact vwith the paper patterns vof drums 3 and 6.' f

.It furthermore will be assumed that in the.,

showing of Fig. 6 the needles opposite 'drum 3 are holding loops of yarn 1; that the loops around the needles of drum 5 are of yarn 2;

that the needles of drums 5 and 6 each have l l l.

yarn 2; alternate needles also havht yarn 1; and that the loops a loop of ing caug around the needles below the latches for drum 4 in position 104 are of yarn 2 with yarn 1 in a zigzag path in front of alternate needles and behind the remaining needles, the needles contain The plungers shown) will all find no holes in the paper pattern so that all of the needles controlled by drum 3 will be lifted to the full knitting l. their former loops and form new loops -of yarn 1. Cam 96 will then raise the needles of drum 3 slightly as is customary to release the tension on the yarn somewhat. Before the cams 97 to 100 are ready to pass the control members 43' of drum 3, the drum 3 will have moved another step to vpresent a different pattern which may, for example, be such that the yarnv 2 will be interlocked in alternate wales of yarn 1 as will be described later.

With respect to drum 5 it is apparent that alternate holes in the pattern are large and the remainder are small `so that alternate plungers go all the'way in while the remainder go onlyT half the way in. 'The needles associated with the plungers which go all the way in will not beraised due tol either cam 49 or 50 due to the 'fact that their control members 43 are in such -a position as not to be affected bycams 49 or 50. However, the control members 43 that are associated with the plungers which go 'only half way in will be lowered by cam 50. As shown in Fig. 6 alternate needles opposite drum 5 are raised thereby to such a position/ that their latches are opened but the. old loops do not fall below the open ends of the latches. -See, for example, the needle in position when cam 49 contacts with control have caught yarn 1 also contain loops of yarn 2 previously formed, while the remaining needles contain only loops of yarn 2.

Attention is called .to the fact that after alternate needles have caught the yarn to be interlocked as in position 103, cam 41 or 91 brings the needles down only to approximately the top of the needle cylinder as in position 101, lwhile when ordinary loops are being formed cam 46 or 99 brings the needles appreciably lower (see position 111) after which they are subsequently raised slightly by cam 96 to a position, the equivalent of position to which the needles are lowered by cam 41 or 91. The feature of having the alternate needles for interlocking purposes lowered to a lesser degree than for ordinary knitting is of considerable advantage when it is desired to have the interlocked yarn drawn fairly tight.

Only a few needles for drum 6 are shown. The plungers are raised from the paper pattern as-the drum has just been moved to present a fresh portion of the pattern and v the .previous row of perforations had been such as shown for drum 5, namely, one causing the interlocking of yarn 1 in alternate wales of the fabric' formed by the needles ofdrum 6.v That is, alternate needles of drum 6 contain yarn 1 as well as loops of yarn 2 while the remaining needles rcontain onlyjloops of yarn 2. The new portion of the pattern for drum 6 has no holes in it so that all the needles of drum 6 will knit loops of yarn 2 when it passes due to the action of cams 98, 99 and 100.

The paper pattern fordrum 4 shows no holes for the plungers so that due to action of cams 98, 99 and 100 they are knitting loops of yarn 2. A detail of the interlocking feature is shown, for example, in position 104 and adjacent thereto. The needles have been fully raised due to cam 98 so that the old loops of yarn 2 havefallen below the open latches. Yarn 1 is also below the open latches being in front of alternate needles and behind the remaining needles. Itis with yarn 1 in this position that yarn 2 is hooked again and pulled through the old loops as shown adjacent position 105. After the new loops have been formed cam 100 raises the needles slightly as previously described.

,It has thus been shown how the needles of drums 5, 6, and 4 knit loops of yarn 2, the needles of drum 3 knit loops of yarn 1, while each yarn is interlocked in alternate wales of the loops of the other yarn. It is of course understood that the character of the fabric may be varied from time to time by variations in the nature of the pattern paper. The same general operationmay also be applied to any desired number of yarns, two yarns being merely representative.

The general aspect of the machine of this invention will be better understood by the plan view of Fig. 7 where a horizontal section has been made in several planes. Yarn carrier 1 is shown attached to rotating ring 20. The dotted lines on ring 29 indicate the cam head which causes the movement of the sinkers 28. The needle cylinder 24 is shown on the extreme left with the needle slots. At the point 106 the ring 20 is broken away showing the grooves in the sinkers and between the sinkers the supporting plate 107 is visible. This plate 107 rests on a ledge 108 on the outside of the needle cylinder 24 as shown in Fig. 2 which accounts for projections from the needle cylinder just below where plate 107 is broken off. Immediately below the section showing ledges 108 another section is taken showingthe normal needle grooves. At the right is shown member 36 with its radial grooves 37 and its circumferential groove with wire 39 therein. On top of wire 39 rests the control arms 40. Near the center ofthe ligure are shown the slots 44 provided for the upper ends of control members 43. Immediately below at the position 109 the slots are longer being at a cross section in the region opposite the top of member 36. Position 110 shows the slots in the upper part of plate 33, while at the point 112 the slots for the lower portion of plate 33 are shown wherein work the special members 52. It is believed that the other parts of Fig. 7 will be easily understood by reference to Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 shows the position control member 43 takes when the plunger associated therewith passes all the way in the pattern paper.` Under the action of the spring 54, as shown in Fig. 2, the member 52 is pulled to the leftv thereby moving the lower part of member 43 to the left so that the cams 49 or 50 will not contact with the projection 48.

Fig. 9 'shows the position of the various control members after cam 49 of Fig. 2 has passed and caused control member 43 to assume its lowermost position. The lower end of member 43 is near the b'ottom of the U-shaped part of member 52 and member 52 is in its eXtreme right position. The upper end of member 43 is still inside slot 44 although in its lower part. The lowering of member 43 has, of course, raised the associated needle to its full knitting position.

The character of the interlocked fabric prepared by the machine of this invention 'may be better understood byreferring to my prior Patent No. 1,541,230, of June 9, 1925.

The machine of this invention is not limited to th'e knitting of an interlocked fabric since it is o'f general application being capable of ordinary knitting, such as Jersey cloth. It is evident that this invention-provides for -the individual control of all the cylinder needles so that a complicated design may 'fbe formed in the knitted fabric. This is accomplished even with interlcked cloth with only one type of needle. That is all the cylinder needlesmay and should be exactly alike, thereby rendering unnecessary the use of needles of several typesy as heretofore have been used. The needles are shown to be of the'latched type although this invention may be used with other types of needles such as springneedles.

As shown in Fig. 6 it is desirable to have the pattern drums stepped around to a new position at the time when their needles are not occupied in the knitting. Thus, as shown in Fig. 6, as drums 4 and 5 are knitting, drums 3 and 6 should be stepped around; and similarly while drums 3 and 6 are knitting drums el and 5 should be stepped around .to a new portion of theI fabric. As shown in Fig. 1, this means that alternate ,drums will be moved while the other two are knitting. The time for the stepping around of one of the drums is controlled as shown in Fig. 2 by the relative position of cam 7 3 on shaft 12. This cam 7 3 can be so positioned as to cause the associated drumy to step around at the time the needles associated with the drum are not engaged in the actual knitting. The same general procedure may also be followed with a greater number of drums ora greater number of yarns or both.

It is to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as a matter of language might be said to fall therebetween.

The invention claimed is:

1. A knitting machine comprising a circular row of needles, a projection on the shank of each needle, a pivoted arm individual to each needle, one end of said arm being coupled to said projection, whereby themovement of said arm causes the upward and downward movement of its associated needle, a plurality of yarn carriers, rotating cam means for causing the other end of said arm to be given a partial downward move-- ment, a second rotating cam means for causing said other end to be given a full downward movement, a third rotating cam means for producing an upward movement of saidl other end, and pattern mechanism for causing when one yarn carrier is passing said first cam means to be effective on alternate arms of a given group while the remaining arms of said group are unaffected by either of said first two cam means, and for causing, when a second yarn carrier is passing, said second cam means to be effective on all arms of said group.

2. A knitting machine comprising a circular row of needles for combining a plurality of independent yarns into a fabric, and cam means to advance and retract the needles of a group to receive one of said yarns and to knit loops thereof, and addisaid first cam means.

3. A knitting machine comprising a circular row of needles, a grooved stationary element carrying said needles, all of said needles being of similar shape and size, a control member individual to each needle for causing the upward and downward movement of its associated needle, a pluralitymofa yarn carriers, rotating cam means for causing said members to produce a partial upward movement of the associated needles, rotating cam means for causing said members to produce a full upward movement of the associated needles, a third rotating cam means for producing a full downward movement of said needles, and pattern mechanism simultaneously selecting a group of said members for causing when one yarn carrier is, passing said first cam means to be effective on alternate members of a given group of needles while the remaining members of said group are unaffected by either of said first two cam means, and for causing when a second yarn carrier is passing said second cam means to be effective on all members of said group.

4. A knitting machine comprising a circular row of needles, a control member individual to each needle for causing the upward and downward movement of its associated needle, a plurality of yarn carriers, rotating cam means for causing said members to produce a partial upward movement of the associated needles, a second rotating cam means for causing said members to produce a full upward movement of the associated needles, a third rotating cam means for producing a full downward movement of said needles, a fourth rotating cam means for producing a partial downward movement of said needles, and pattern mechanism for causing, when one yarn carrier is passing, said second cam means to be effective on all members of a group after which said third cam means is effective to lower said needles, said pattern mechanism also causing, when a second yarn carrier is passing, said first cam means to be effective on alternate members of said group and later causing said fourth cam means to lower said alternate needles.

5. A knitting machine of the circular type comprising a circular row of needles, a projection on the shank of each needle, apivoted arm individual to each needle and having the movement of said arm causes the advance vand retraction of its associated needle, a control member for each of said arms, said members being capable of movement in both a "horizontal and a vertical plane, pattern mechanism for controlling individually the positions of said members in a horizontal plane, and rotating cam means for causlng a movement of saidl members in a vertical plane.

6. A knitting machine of the circular type comprising a circular row of needles, a pivoted arm individual to each needle for causing the advance and retraction of the asso,- ciated needle, a control member for each of said arms, slotted means for/receiving saidl members to permit one end thereof to be moved ina vertical plane with negligible' motion in a horizontal plane While permitting the opposite ends of said members to be movedfin a horizontal plane, pattern mechanism for controlling individually the positions of the lower ends of said members 1n a horizontal plane, and rotating cam means for causing a movement of said members in a vertical plane.

7. A knitting machine comprising a circular row of needlesa grooved stationary element carrying said needles, a control member for each needle for advancing or v retracting its associated needle, a plurality of yarn carriers, rotating cam means for causing said members to produce'a .artial advancement of the associated nee les, a second rotating cam means for causing said `members to produce a full advancement of the associated needles, a third rotating cam means for producing a retraction .of said needles, and pattern mechanism, for simultaneously selecting a group of said members and for causing when one yarn carrier is passing said first cam means. to be effective on alternate members of said group While the remaining members of said group are unaffected by either of said first two cam means, and for causing When a second yarn carrier is passing said second cam means to be effective-on all members of 'said group, said pattern mechanism also causingl the number of members in said group to vary from time to `time in a predetermined manner.-

times the advancement 'of its associated needle, a plurality of yarn-carriers, rotating cam means for causing said members -to pro duce a- 4full advancement of the associated needles, a second rotating cam` means for producmg 'a partial advancement of said needles, means for retracting saidy needlesand automatic'pattern mechanism for simultaneously selecting a group of said needles and responsive to the passage of' one yarn carrier 4to cause said first cam `means to be effective on all of said group of needles and responsive to the passage of' a second yarn carrier to cause said second cam means tol be effective to partially advance only a fractional portion of' the needles of said group, the remainder of the needles of said group being unaffected by said first and said second cam means, said pattern mechanism when moved to a different position by the operation of the machine being responsive to the passage of said first yarn carrier to cause said second cam means to be effectivefto advance only a fractional portion of' the needles of said group, 'the remainder of the group being unaffected by said first and said second cams and being responsive vto `lthe passage of said second yarn carrier to cause said first cam means to be effective to advance all the needles of said group, said pattern mechanism also causing the number of needles in said group tovary from time to time in a predetermined manner.

9. A knitting machine comprising a cir-v cular lrow of needles, a grooved stationary element carrying said needles, a control member individual to each needle for causing at times the advancement of its associated needles, a plurality of yarn carriers, rotatingcam means for causing said members to produce a full advancement of the associated needles, a second rotating cam means for producing a partial advancement of said needles, means for retracting said needles, and automatic pattern mechanism for simultaneously selecting a group of said needles and responsive'to the passage of one yarn carrier to, cause said first cam means to be effective on all of a group of said needles and responsive to the passage of a secondv yarn carrier to cause said second cam means 'to be-effective to 'advance only a fractional said second cam means to be effective to advance only said remaining needles of the group While saidv fractional portion 'of said group remain unaffected by said first and said second cam means and being responsive to the passage of said second yarn carrier to cause said first cam means to be effective to advance all the needles of said group, said pattern mechanism also causing the number of needles in said group to vary from'ftim to time in a predetermined manner. 10. A knitting machine comprising a cir-, cular row of needles, a grooved stationary element carrying said needles, al plurality of passage of said first yarn carrier to cause s yarn carriers, a control element individual` t'o each-needle for causing at times the advancement of each needle, a vprojection on each of said control elements, rotating ca'm means for contactingwith said projections for fully advancing said needles, a second'ro-W,

carrier. 1s passing, all of a group of saidelements to be moved to place their proJections `in-`y the path of said first cam means and for causing, when a second yarn ,carrier is passing, a` fractional portion of' said group of control elements to be moved to place their projections under the control of said second cam means while the remainder of the control elements`of said group are unaffected by said first and said second cam means, said pattern mechanism also causing the number of control elements in said group to vary' from time to time in a predetermined manner.

11.`A knitting machine comprising a circular row of needles, a grooved stationary element carrying said needles, a plurality of yarn carriers, a rotating cam adapted to produce* a partial advancement of every needle in said row; a rsecond rotating cam' adapted to produce :the full advancement of every needle in said row, means for retractingsaid needles and attern mechanism for selectingv a group ofp said needles and for simultaneously causing, when one yarn 'carrier is passing, said second cam to' produce the full advancement of all needles of said group, for' subsequently selecting 'a limited number of said group and for causing, when 4said second yarn carrier is passing said rst cam, to produce the partial advancement of said limited number of needles, while the remainder of the needles of said group ,are unaffected by said lirstvv and said second cams, said patternmech'anism also causing .the number of -members said group to vary from time to time ina predetermined manner.

12. 'Aknitting machine comprising a row of needles, a grooved stationary elemet carrying said needles, a control member' indi-` vidual to each needle, ayarn carrier, a rotating cam for causing said members to partially advance said needles, a second rotating cam for causing said members-to fully advance said needles, means for retracting said needles, and pattern mechanism for simultaneously selectively operating a group of said control members' to cause one of said selectedmembers to be actuatedby said first cam, when said yarn carrier is passing, to subsequently cause said selectedmember to be actuated by said second Acam ina second passage of said yarn carrier, and subsequently to cause said selected member to be free of actuation from'both said irst and said second cams during another passage of said-yarn4 I carrier. ,c n

13. A knitting machine comprisinga circular row of needles for combining a plurality of individual yarns into a fabric, cam

means to advance alternate needles of a group to a position sulicient to receive au yarn but insuicient to allow a yarn pre- .'viously looped to escape therefrom and to subsequently retract said alternate needles to a normal retracted position, a second cam means to advance and retract all the needles ot' said group to receive a second of said yarns and to knit loops thereof, said second camv retracting said needles to a position re1- atively `it'arther away from the yarn receivin position than the normal position occupied by said alternate needles atter retraction by said i'st cam means, and additional cam means operative 4after said second cam means for bringingall of the needles of said group to the said normal retracted' position. i

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 11th day of September A. D., 1925.

vincitrici: LOMBARDI. 

